Need help finding rehabber who will support non releasable squirrels to be cared for

[Diggie's Friend]

I'm looking for rehabber contact in my area that is not against rehabbing and supporting, if needs be, non-releasable squirrels in captivity. The rehabbers here are against having any squirrel that should turn out to be not releasable, to be cared for in captivity. What I was told by the local rehabber most recently , who has helped our yard squirrels in the past who were sick or injured, is that she no longer are any exceptions to keeping non releasable alive, having done so in the past. In addition, she sought to justify this by asking me whether I would sacrifice the many releasables, for the few non-releasables, saying it is cage space and time is a premium. Since having seen a number of tree squirrels that are truly non- releasable, but otherwise happy and active, playful with their caregivers, being afforded a good quality of life by their caregivers, I can't see euthanasia as out of hand acceptable. I replied saying I wouldn't sacrifice either for the other, rather that I'm in support of seeking out others that can care for these non releasables, which have the potential of living for many more years cared for in captivity. And though I well realize that not all rehabbers have the time and/or resources to do this, as such work can be daunting no doubt with forty neonates to care for in addition to the ones being readied for release, through the help of myself and others, the goal of finding homes and providing a habitat support cage for these animals with special needs, when a rehabber is truly unable to care for them themselves long term, should be supported.

if there are any here be able to help me find a contact in my area, that could render aid in the event a squirrel in my yard is seriously injured, or becomes seriously ill; and is also willing to see the animal supported in captivity, should it turns out to be a non releasable after care, please contact me at my email: Squirlsrus@msn.com

Thank you, Diggie's Friend (In support of squirrels with special needs)

(Diggie is our 9 year old yard squirrel, our dear friend. Her health is now failing, yet we believe she may still have babies to care for)

[Shewhosweptforest]

Wow, thank you for your compassion :Love_Icon it saddens me that sometimes it comes down to convenience whether a living being will be given a chance:sadness it's also disheartening that rehabbers become over worked and stressed...and lose their heart :shakehead

I don't know of anyone in your area...but, others might:great rest assured that if your nine year old yard squirrel ever needs help...we will be here for you :hug :Love_Icon

Thank you for caring:please

[Diggie's Friend]

Well put, and concise as to the issue, it is sad.

Diggie I am sad to report is likely going to pass soon. I got her to eat some today, but not much. She could barely hold up her head as it was, but somehow makes her way around. It seems that her time has come.

She first came to our yard as a juvenile, playing on the law with her tail. I called out to her and each time I did she stopped and then played once more with her tail. Over the years she was a shy squirrel, not as others that had followed me about the yard, yet in time she became more friendly, yet never lost her healthy fear of man, which is a good thing that helped her to stay alive on her own. She has had two litters for most of her years here. The last few years we were able to get photos of her and her brood, with three babies a year ago. Last summer she had no babies; it was very hot here and dehydration may have taken its toll on her, then the rains set a record for rainfall. This season a neighbor said she saw her with her young'uns, but so far we haven't seen them come out. We don't know that will come of her babies if she passes; yet there is no way to get to them save they come out and the next isn't directly adjacent to our yard. There are many of her nexts in and around our yard that are hers, she having made this area her territory. She was once feisty and drove off all others out of the yard and her territory adjacent to it, save her young; but now she has beome the little ol lady squirrel so gentle, she accepted me some years back to take food from my hand, and at times has allowed me to pet her tummy while she is eating. She has never bitten, or acted aggressive toward us, not demanding food, but always been a lady about that, coming out with her double paw tuck cuteness or leaning over in anticipation on the wall as I walk up with the nuts. I don't know if I can post photos here, but I will try so you can see her and her babies.

[Mel1959]

Offering her some healthy food, like Henrys Healthy Blocks, might make a difference in her overall health. Especially considering she's nursing and the pregnancies she's gone through. Two blocks a day provides the foundation for a healthy diet. Most squirrels like the picky eater blocks or the wild bite blocks.

There have been many members on here who have seen wonderful changes in their yard squirrels when their diet was supplemented with blocks and some healthy foods. Some other things you can try are avocado, coconut, greens, sweet potatoe, banana, oranges, sugar snap peas and ocassionally small chunks of corn on the cob. I will put these items out in a bowl for my yard squirrels a couple of times a week along with fresh water. I also offer Henrys blocks, especially to the females who may be pregnant or nursing.

Thank you for looking out for this little lady. :Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

Diggie is beeeutiful....such a grand lady :blowkiss the fact that she has lived 9 years in the wild speaks volumes to her healthy make up....and the care her neighbors "you" have given along the way. :bowdown I wouldn't be surprised, saddened, yes...if she was coming to the end of her journey. Nine is pretty much unheard of in the wild. I can't help but think since she became pregnant again, she must be in decent shape.:great Mel had some great ideas with supplementing her diet...you can also purchase high grade rodent blocks from exotic pet stores...crush them, add a little crushed calcium...even tums...stir in peanut butter and make a yummy boo ball :grin3 I wouldn't hesitate giving her a small piece if corn daily....just because she is a wild and eats plenty of healthy squirrel diet food on a regular basis :great

Thanks again for watching over this special lil soul...and if something does happen to her...her babies will more than likely come down looking for help....they will come down for sure if old enough and could be coaxed into a have-a-heart trap with food :great this is doable if you can have the support of your neighbors :Love_Icon

[Diggie's Friend]

Thank you for your kind words. She is an old squirrel, having had litters bi-annually for many years. She likely has extreme arthritis now. Two seasons of bad weather in a row, with extreme heat and heavy rain like there hasn't been for 50 years, has taken its toll. Yesterday she could barely lift her head, and paws, leaning on her elbows touching the wall to eat, it took her 10 minutes to consume the avocado chunk we left, and then she only ate a small piece of walnut, took two bites on the orange slice, and then left. We left out nuts and fruit earlier and saw they were gone; we hope she ate that up.

Today we put out apple, and cocowater with superberry organic Aronia juice in a low crock dish. The Cocowater provides key minerals, a good source of potassium also. Cocowater, (this not the coconut juice) was once used in WWII in place of plasma, it contains electrolytes. The aronia juice is known to be a high level anti-inflammatory (helps with the arthritis), anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and also balances blood sugar. She was having trouble getting down to the water fall basin now drink; at least she can have water if she comes.

We are concerned as to whether her babies survived, as her milk has been drying up this season early. We are going to let our neighbors know about her and her young ones. Should they see a squirrel down we hopefully can retrieve her and lay her to rest in our yard.

Our memories of her are many, her gentle spirit we will never forget, her soft touch when after years she accepted us, we could stroke under her chin. She has stood out from the rest and survived most of her young, being about 9 years of age. We called her Diggie, for that was what she did from the first time I spotted her playing on our law as a juvenile. We used to feed her on the ground, where she consumed minerals from the soil ingestion (geophagy). This is what we attribute to her having survived most of her young by many years. Sadly we listened to the rehabber that said not to feed them on the ground due to the cats; but the cats get up on the wall too. We plan to start putting out the food on the ground also, not just the wall, but will wait till after our dear ol sweet squirrel friend has passed, not wanting her to go there, as she can't manage well to get back up the wall. We put out walnut pieces with calcium powder sprinkled on them daily for all the yard squirrels.

We don't have oak trees in this area, which is why we put out the organic walnuts. We have orange trees, the juveniles go for the oranges eating a hole in them, then clean them out to the bottom. The Fox squirrels here were introduced nearby us on the West Coast just about a 100 years ago. Slowly they have spread out from that point till they reached our valley and beyond. They are only located though where there is sufficient water and food for them, otherwise they are abscent. We have other native wildlife here that includes raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and hawks, bobcats, and badgers. The native squirrels in this area are the California Ground Squirrel, which are in no short supply.

Thank you for your comments, Diggie's Friend

[Diggie's Friend]

I just spotted Ms. Diggie, she is the same, weak laying in the sun, not eating. Another squirrel got to her food we left out before she did, so we had to run off the competition with a harmless squirt bottle of water to ensure Diggie had access to the food that we then replaced. Now my hubby is out there guarding the food till Diggie hopefully comes back to eat it.

Just now he told me she came and ate and then drank allot of the cocowater with just a few drops of aronia in it. She also ate few pieces of nut. Then she drank more and jumped up into the tree adjacent to the corner of our yard where there is a large leaf nest, as she did the other day. She didn't touch the apple or avocado, but perhaps she'll do that after her nap. If we can get her rehydrated, she may recover. The cocowater is excellent for this purpose, and can be diluted after the first dose as not to push too much potassium daily, as it is high in this mineral. The tiny amount of aronia juice diluted in it makes it appetizing, as well as healthier; a real picker upper!

[Shewhosweptforest]

Wow...I can't imagine a badger in the neighborhood:eek :grin3 I'll say it again Diggie's a lucky squirrel girl :Love_Icon I hope if her end is near it's swift and peaceful and perhaps her last litter is weaned....or maybe your neighbors made a mistake and it wasn't her with littles :please whatever the outcome, nature is not easy on us....and thanks to y'all Diggie had some help in evening the odds :hug

I'm very interested in the waters you were discussing...thank you for sharing :thankyou

[Diggie's Friend]

That would be the Coconut water by Naked Juice; it tastes better than the Coco Libre brand. Diggie never had this before today, she really went for it, and came back again for more. Keep in mind it is high in potassium, so you will need to mix it with water. The amount of potassium is on the label, so measuring can be done.
Amazon.com has this making it easy for everyone to get. Albertsons Market carries the cocowater, as does Whole Foods Market.

The Aronia is also available on Amazon.com about 37 dollars including shipping. It is concentrated stuff, my bottle lasted me a year.

I add 1-2 Tsp. of the aronia to a liter container of the cocowater for my own personal use, not for squirrels. I would add about 1/4 Tsp. to 1/8 cup water for the squirrels and about the same for the cocowater. Not a vet or rehabber, so I can't recommend a perfect amount for a squirrel in anothers care; asking someone here would be a good idea. It is really naturaly low in sugar, a perfect source of electrolytes without the excess sugar that unnatural sources include.


If links are permitted, someone please let me know? I will be glad to post there here for the convenience of the members if links are allowed.

Sorry haven't had time to look, been busy with Diggie

The badgers are in the foot hills adjacent to the valley, as are the bobcats, raccoons, and coyotes. The raccoons and coyotes come down the wash and end up running around the yards at night, looking for food, mostly gophers, that have taken over this part of the valley, ruining the lawns etc. The opossums tend to hang out in this area here and there. We had to move some back up to the hills a few times. The Ground squirrels hang out on rocky areas near the base of the foothills and along the wash. Funny to see them pop up on the flats adjacent to the train station.


Still hoping someone here can help me connect with a rehabber in my area, I am fine with them contacting me first. Sometimes one contact leads to another and so if they aren't so close they may still be able to help.

There is another female that is nursing, I saw her today. Thing is we saw her nipples change and she pulled out the fur around her ninnies, and the underside of her tail. She had them alright, yet whether they survived that we still do not yet know.

[Shewhosweptforest]

You can post helpful links :great what part of California are you located? We do have a few members in Northern California.....I believe :thinking you could request for an admin to put your location in the title....that may help finding someone also:great

[Diggie's Friend]

Update on Ms. Diggie. She came today, ate some nuts, not just a couple of tiny pieces this time. She even sat up fully for awhile as she ate. It seems her back is effected, bent over a bit after a couple of minutes, but not leaning on the wall as she has been. She jumped up in the tree to take a nest nap, but is having a hard time negotiating the tangle of branches with her back legs. It may be arthritis after all with dehydration, from her not wanting to get up and down a number of times getting drinks of water, as is her practice. I put out the coconut water, aronia juice, and water mixture again in a shallow dish on the top of the wall, and will continue to do so as long as she needs the assistance. There is hope.

[Shewhosweptforest]

I agree :great it's a good sign she came back for food and water....and was in better shape :w00t she may have an injury also....maybe a fall :dono but they are such great healers and with your additional help....she has a fighting chance :please I know it's tough when they're this age....because you just don't know when it's the end...they hide their illnesses or declines sooo well :(

[Diggie's Friend]

The Aronia berry juice lasts a long time, worth every penny! The coconut water is well accepted by the squirrels in our yard.

It is a good source of potassium, so dilute it by adding more water than cocowater. For example 3/16 cups (1/8 c + 1 Tbsp.) water, and 1 Tbsp. coconut water, and 1/4 Tsp. Aronia berry juice. See labels for more nutritional info.

As long as a squirrel gets more calcium daily than potassium, this should be ok for most animals.

Lower amounts of cocowater may be more appropriate for older animals that may have reduced kidney function. I learned this from my Mom who has reduced kidney function; she has to watch her intake of potassium daily on account of this condition; also her intake of sodium, so that it's lower than that of potassium.

Here are the links:

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Aroniaberry-Chokeberry-Juice-Concentrate/dp/B0052MWPEK

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Coconut-Certified-Project-Verified/dp/B01BGQ1MLW/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1492385565&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=coconut+water+Naked+Juice&psc=1

[TubeDriver]

Hi there! :wave123

Welcome! Squirrel friends of ALL sorts are welcome here. You have been a great support to your wild squirrel friend, Diggie. :dance

I don't know any rehabbers in your area, but hopefully this thread will provide some ideas. Wild Squirrels (especially moms with kids) should be helped. No one should be ignored and not helped.

[Diggie's Friend]

Thanks for the fuzzies folks!

I was thinking about what I noted for the amount of the mixture I used to help Diggie, and thought to clarify that what I noted for the amount of the coconut water and aronia juice mixture was not my estimate for a captive squirrel, nor a young orphan, but only my estimation for an adult wild squirrel that was dehydrated, and not eating well.

I wish I could have tested Diggie's urine to see where her urine pH was after she drank the mixture, as this would have shown if her urine pH was normal or high in pH. If then it had been high I could adjust the amount of potassium in it, by reducing the amount of cocowater by measure, the greater source of potassium, and by raising the water measure dilute it even further (distilled or zero water that are lower in pH) to lower the pH.

Though common sources for electrolytes for rehydration, like lactated ringers, are used by rehabbers and Vets, I had little choice but to use the one source I had on hand, having no car that day to go to the market for pedialyte. So, I grabbed the cocowater, that it is a good source of electrolytles, and added a small amount of aronia juice to it. I'm just so glad Diggle found it to her liking as well as she did, and that it seems to have given her a big lift.

[Mel1959]

You sound like you know what you're doing.

The Henrys Healthy Blocks would be a great nutritional addition. :great

[Diggie's Friend]

As providence would have it, Diggie figured out where the food was coming from, and came up to our back steps to look for it. Oftentimes we opened the door there she was, having arrived before we got a chance to put food out for her and her juvenile young'uns. When we missed her while away, she would leave us a 'wee pee puddle' in protest for not being home when she came to get nuts at the time she had arrived. At the same time, I was concerned as to whether the amount of walnuts we put out daily was a healthy amount to complement the rest of her diet.

I learned from a commonly known study on the blood and urinary values of Gray squirrels, that notes what the mean and range of their urine pH was found to be, and thought to test oe of her freshly deposited wee pee puddles with paper litmus used for urine I had on hand. What I found was that the readings in a tight range of (6.2-6.6) were consistently the most common, the color of the paper strips ranging from mid to dark forest green then indicated. Less frequently I found the test strip to be teal, indicating a pH of 7.0 . Only very infrequently did I find the test strip to be purple, indicating a pH 7.5 up to 8.0. In all the testing this fox squirrel's turned out have the same mean of (6.5), as was the mean urine pH for gray squirrels in that study, and the same range of (6-8), with the same low incidence of alkaline spikes. Even when this squirrel was nursing her young, requiring a greater amounts protein and fat and nutrients, that I supplied in part with extra serving of walnuts, the pH continued close to the mean for most all readings. Up to most recently the testing showed she had a healthy urine pH.

Sadly at this time Diggie isn't coming up to our backdoor, or I would test one of her ‘wee pee puddles' immediately after she deposited it, to see where it is with the addition of the electrolytes. At the time Diggie began to go downhill she appeared to be having a hard time getting to the water basin and back up on the wall. This short term help with this source of electrolytes, that she readily accepted and clearly needed, became the only viable option to afford her support in her present condition and advanced age, without taking her out of the wild.

So yes, I have some specific knowledge in this regard; yet not when it comes to other health issues, as they aren’t within my range of experience and knowledge as to address them on my own. This is the reason why I came here to ask for a recommendation for a contact for help in the next event there is a need; I say the next, for in the past we have seen mange, bites, abscesses, broken bones, and even a potential gun shot, that required the expert knowledge and skill of a wildlife rehabilitator.

[Diggie's Friend]

Sad to say Ms. Diggie didn't show up today; maybe we missed her, yet it may be that her time may have finally come. Tomorrow will likely confirm this, even so I hope not.

It was so good to see her yesterday, to offer her a nut and have her take it gently from my hand as she does, looking at me with her dear sweet eyes and expression on her face.

"There is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die." This for both man and animals. All we can do is to mourn and remember them with thankfulness for the times we have shared with them and they with us.

[Mel1959]

Hope you see Diggie today. :hug

[Diggie's Friend]

The sun is coming up here, so far she hasn't come. She often comes in the early morning, other times she comes before the rest. I was thinking it may be West Nile Virus, as they have that here. She had pulled out the hair on the underside of the base of her tail when she had her babies, so she was exposed. The hair has since grown back in, but she may have been bitten when it was bare. One of here back legs seems weaker, but there is no limping. Does anyone have any knowledge as to what can help combat this virus in tree squirrels?

[Diggie's Friend]

Update on Ms. Diggie. It was sunny and nice most of the day till just a bit ago. At that time I saw a squirrel running along the wall away from the corner where I put the food and water. Not sure it was Diggie or not, as I couldn't see much save the tail was flopping side to side as if the squirrel was working hard to keep it's balance, which would be the case with Diggie in her present condition, yet no other squirrel was chasing. After a bit I went out again; the wind had begun to pick up and the storm clouds were coming in, and who on the wire is crossing but Diggie, or one who looks like her and moves like her. In the tree there are two squirrels one chasing the other. If it is her, she has turned the corner on whatever had her down. I sure hope so, I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

I will update to confirm it is her when I see her close up. Thanks for all the fuzzy good wishes folks!

[Diggie's Friend]

Correction: Her hair hasn't grown all the way back under the base of her tail yet. I know this for I just saw Ms. Diggie, she made it! I took some photos so you can see her eating and drinking.

She has a ways to go, but with her tail up over her head, and holding up the food well, she ate orange, walnuts, and drank the diluted coconut water.

She eats slower than she has, but faster now than I saw her doing last week. I ran out of the Aronia juice, ordered some more.

For many years we feed the yard squirrels only organic grown foods. Our orange trees are organic, and the nuts and fruits we offer them are also.

We had a problem once with the walnuts in the shell we bought in buik in a large bag sfter a long wet winter. We found mold/fungus growing on the shells, so we dumped the last of them in the trash. Most of the time buying them in bulk wasn't a problem, yet during that wet year it was. Now we feed only the bagged organic walnut pieces; it's allot more expensive, but so far no issues with the fungus/mold.

I like the ones from Trader Joe's best as the flavor is better; yet we have gotten ones from Whole Foods that have been ok too.

This link has some helpful info on organic nuts and seeds. : http://www.worldwellnesseducation.org/nuts-and-seeds/

Organic coconut water not concentrate, is an all natural organic source of electrolytes. This article notes: "it contains the same concentration of salt as our body's cells."

http://www.hope4cancer.com/information/coconut-water-the-fluid-of-life.html

[Rexie]

I am so thrilled to hear miss diggie is still with you. What a blessing to have been able to care for her and her offspring all these years. For however long she has left I am sure you will cherish every moment you get to see and feed her. These little ones have extreme power over us humans. In all my 50 years and lots of different species I have cared for, there is not any other that compares to a squirrel, they are the most unique and magical little beings. Sending hugs out to miss diggie, thank you for loving her.
.

[Diggie's Friend]

Yes, super special!!

[Lighten-Up]

So very happy that Ms. Diggie is getting stronger! :Love_Icon

[Diggie's Friend]

Today we put out orange, avocado, the walnuts, and the cocowater dilution. When she came she was moving slowly very guarded, moved away when I came closer, indicating she's feeling very poorly. Her hair was again standing on end, visably cold, not cold out, but the wind was blowing some. She didn't eat much at all, nor drank that I saw. She jumped up into the leaf nest tree and I haven't seen her since.

There is so little fat on her that she may be having a problem regulating her body temperature; perhaps her thyroid isn't working well? I read that Mammary cancer can happen in female rodents that reach menopause. She's is not so old as that, yet then again having as many young as she has had, the latter years two litters a year, her body may be spent. It could be her kidneys, liver, or uterus, or a combination of issues; anything is possible.

The rehabber here is very capable, and tries hard, but she has no extra cages or enclosures for an adult at the present, having many small young ones to care for, along with a number of juveniles that are being readied for release. She felt bad.

Presently in her weakened condition this old girl is very vulnerable to predation from pets, wildlife, and being pushed away from the food by other squirrels, which she retreats from. If I could get her, I would; at least then I could warm her up, and offer her food in a quiet safe place. It's now becoming evident that she isn't going to be enough to stablize her.

The wind has stopped, glad for that; tomorrow I will go out and do the same as I did today.

[Diggie's Friend]

I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and experience you have on this board that you share with the public, as it does much to supporting those that desire to render care for these animals they have found in need, and those cared for on an ongoing basis.

In regard to Diggie's presently declined condition, I looked up online to see if there was anything noted on menopause in rodents, and found this article on menopause in rats. Below is an excerpt from this article: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pet-Rats-3537/2008/7/Menopause-rats.htm

“Menopause”

“You can't really tell if the rat has gone through menopause unless you have the Vet run some blood work to check the hormone levels.”

“Although female rats do not experience actual menopause, their reproductive ability begins to subside between 15 and 18 months of age. At this time there is a reduction or cessation of estrus cycles due to disruption of hormones. As they age their reproductive organs will become less suited for pregnancy and birth and the eggs will become less viable”

“The age at which a female reaches the post-productive period of her life will vary between individual rats and lines. Often, by 18 months of age, the estrus (heat) cycle has become irregular or even ceased. It is still possible for a female to get pregnant even though it appears she is no longer going into heat.”

“As the female ages fertility may decrease and the litters may tend to be smaller. An aging reproductive system in mammals can also increase the percentage of birth defects, problematic pregnancies, and labor difficulties.”

In the last few years we have seen Diggie with 3 young, one more than we had seen with her in years prior. Yet this last Summer we saw no evidence of her having been pregnant or given birth, and then no young. This season it was very evident she was pregnant, and delivered. Whether the young survived or not we will have to wait to see.

This fits well with the facts on increased fertility and menopause, and problems with pregnancies in elderly rodents, as well as her present decline in health. As for tumors, I haven't seen evidence of that, but then no hands on physical examination has been done.

One thing is clear, to me at least, that she has entered into menopause. And though not saying this is the explaination for her entire present condition, her advanced age as a longtime breeding female is the primary cause for it.

[Diggie's Friend]

Just saw Ms. Diggie resting near the water basin beneath the fruit trees, her spot. She didn't come down to drink then, hope she had though before I came out. In a bit she moved on down the wall to the water dish, and took a quick drink there. Yet not pausing long enough to eat, she traveled further down the wall to the neighbor's yard, towards where her babies' nest is. Hope to see her back this afternoon, when she usually spends more time eating. C.

[Diggie's Friend]

Update on Diggie: She came late in the afternoon to eat, about an hour before sunset, which is her habit of doing.
Today was a good day; she drank more water, ate more food sitting up, not having the trouble she did earlier in the week just to hold it up to eat it. An improvement I'm glad to report.

Sadly yesterday she didn't show up in the afternoon, perhaps due to the neighbor disturbing the tree at the same time and general location where she usually comes to feed.
She continues to retreat from the other squirrels, and moves off out of sight when anything else moves.
Clearly she's aware that she isn't up for a challenge. smart girl! I think this is one of the main reasons she has survived as long as she has.

From the little I've seen her eat and drink overall this week, I just don't know where she's been getting enough nutrition to sustain her life.
Perhaps all the resting she has been doing may explain how she has been managing on so little, even so not for lack of us providing her food AM and PM.

The superberry Aronia berry juice is set to arrive tomorrow; she really liked it the first time we added it to her water.
Just a tiny measure goes a long ways to support good energy levels and boost the immune system.

[Diggie's Friend]

I saw Diggie, but from a distance I wasn't sure at first that it was her; she looked so good, younger even, eating steadily while sitting up. This unlike I have observed her recently, as off her feed, lethargic, uncomfortable, weak, with limited strength, and clearly visually not well, she seemed like a new squirrel! After she finished, she took pleasure in an unhurried cheek wiping. Then she moved down the wall to her special spot just above the water basin, where she stretched out flat with her arms and legs hanging over the edges of the wall to bask in the afternoon sun. For a moment life was bliss. Seeing her once again comfortable and confident in her habitat was heart warming; she even reached for one of the yet small unripe apricots growing just behind our wall.

[Diggie's Friend]

We have a problem here, a squirrel with an injured foot has shown up on the wall. I can likely catch the squirrel, but having contacted the rehabber they are busy with babies. There is another rehabber, but they work during the day. Again this group doesn't support non releasables; so if it should turn out to be one they will kill the squirrel, rather than give it a good home. I really need an alternate source to contact in my area to avoid this from taking place. Please PM me for my more specific location. Thank you

P.S. Our dear Mamma Diggie stop coming. We assume she has now passed. We miss her so very much, she was our dear friend.

Ms. Diggie 2008- 2017

[TubeDriver]

Godspeed Diggie.:grouphug Nine years in the wild is remarkable, she lived a long life. :grouphug I have had a few friendly wilds that have lived 4-6 years but never 9.

I can't help with a rehabber in your area but providing some healthy rodent blocks and fresh water may give the injured squirrel enough strength to heal.

[Lighten-Up]

:Love_Icon Mamma Diggie :Love_Icon


I can't help with a rehabber in your area either. Please know that I had one this winter with a very badly injured paw. I supported it with lots of good quality food and some natural foods that are anti-bacteria, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, and the paw did heal, a little sideways, but that squirrel can run as fast as the rest of them now. It took months to heal, but it did.

[Diggie's Friend]

If one is found, please let them know. I don't need to know their name or address, only to confirm who they are by a pseudo name by PM on this board, and then by phone, as to set up a time to pick up the squirrel.

As for foods for the wilds that are not found in their habitat here, I have offered a number of them here for years, but to no avail, save they be other nuts, seeds, or avocado. They refused the berries paws down. I tried dried mealies, yet save for the elder female when I put into her mouth when she thought it was a nut was in my hand. And though she chewed it down, she ignored those I left for her from there on. The others did the same, sniffed but didn't eat it. I found them to accept pieces of peach or apricot in season, and apple occasionally, yet there are two fruit trees adjacent to the yard that are peach and apricot, that they try to get, but then drop them for they aren't yet ripe.

Though we have seen the older female eat yard moss around the time she gave birth this last winter, when we had allot of rain; save for her habit of eating some odd plant foods about the time she gave birth, we didn’t see her do so. She and the others would eat the buds of fruit trees, along with taking less than fully ripe other tree fruits; but then they just drop it after having a bite. Some native berries in late winter we saw her eat, but none we put out that were ripe did she accept.

A friend of ours back east told us that once she did a short experiment to determine if the squirrels that lived in the woods on their property would accept non-wild food sources similar to that of their wild foods, when it came to sources other than nuts and seeds. Out of those that accepted the foods that were non-native, only the juveniles did, but not the adults.

I am aware that squirrels cared for in captivity do accept non-native sources for food. Organic Yogurt would be super once it has been captured to support them if rehabbed. The rehabber here told me they will eat block in captivity if not having been offered it prior in their life, but that is for reason of needing to survive on what is offer that they relent.

The squirrels come here from nearby neighborhoods, many of them transient males during the rut, who leave when breeding season ends. Those that stay shared the yard with the dominant breeding female. I recall in a funny round and round chase of her with another fat female nursing young, pretty funny really, allot of noise, but not biting thankfully! Eventually Diggie prevailed as to own the territory of our yard, and the adjacent yards as her domain. Now the dominion of this area will be left to one of her female relatives, perhaps one of her own adult female young.

As for this squirrel, whether it is injured from a bite by another squirrel, or by a cat or dog, or fell in a chase, or shot by a neighbor, or fed bad food, or injured by a car, I may never learn. Having rescued a number of squirrels over the years, I know how to get them to go into the tender trap, and make sure they aren’t hurt in doing so. I know to cover them up and up them in a place that is quiet till I can get them to a rehabber.

[Diggie's Friend]

Thanks 'Lighten UP', I have had to nurse Diggie in the past with what appeared to be a broken arm from a bite. I used Arnica and other homeopathics recommended. I would have brought her in to nurse her back to health, but she had babies to care for then, so I did the best I could. We have allot of predators here, and with other squirrels it can be too much for an injured one to overcome. Glad to hear the squirrel you supported made it. The Aronia is truly as superfruit, it has the same properies, including others also. I like the homeopathics they really do help.

[Lighten-Up]

Thanks 'Lighten UP', I have had to nurse Diggie in the past with what appeared to be a broken arm from a bite. I used Arnica and other homeopathics recommended. I would have brought her in to nurse her back to health, but she had babies to care for then, so I did the best I could. We have allot of predators here, and with other squirrels it can be too much for an injured one to overcome. Glad to hear the squirrel you supported made it. The Aronia is truly as superfruit, it has the same properies, including others also. I like the homeopathics they really do help.

Was the Arnica that you used homeopathic? or something else? I am familiar with Arnica oil for topical use. I have not looked into Arnica as a homeopathic remedy. Thank you. I wish you the best on your quest to help squirrels.

[TubeDriver]

Arnica or Wolfsbane is an antiinflamatory/pain killer However, too much is EXTREMELY toxic so you have to be very careful with dosing, especially in something as small as a squirrel.

[Diggie's Friend]

Yes, as I wrote, a homeopathic. I followed the directions of a veteran rehabber of over 25 years, that is very versed in homeopatchic use and application as to the strength to use. It worked to get her through a very painful likely broken arm or bad bite, or both, and recover. She was managing on three legs for a couple of weeks, so good to see her once again use her forearm to walk. I also used the 'gunpowder' homeopatchic that also was recommended, in place of an anti-biotic, if I recall correctly. I don't use herbs, as they are far too strong in most cases I read.

I am no rehabber, I rely on others for advice when it comes to injuries, and parasitic or viral diseases. This is why I am looking for one that doesn't support the euthansia of non releasable injured squirrels, that can with help survive in captivity when they are not longer able to survive in the wild, if they still have the capability of having a good quality of life ahead of them in captivity.